How much do the King's Guards' real bearskin hats cost?

The alarming cost of bearskin caps worn by the King’s Guards has been revealed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The caps worn by soldiers outside Buckingham Palace now cost more than £2,000 each.

The ceremonial hats are made from the fur of black bears, which raises eyebrows among animal rights groups such as PETA.

Read more: London news

According to a report by the BBC, a spokesperson for The MoD said: “We are open to exploring faux fur alternatives if they pass the necessary requirements."

However, the ministry spokesman said a fake fur version would have to satisfy "safety and durability considerations" and that "no alternative has met all those criteria to date".

The cost of the caps worn by the King's Guard rose from £1,560 each in 2022 to £2,040 in 2023.

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